5 Islands Private Speedboat w/ Snorkeling + Lunch & Drinks

The best part of this Mauritius day is the mix of fast open-water riding and quiet island time. You move from a waterfall and wild monkeys to Blue Bay Marine Park, then finish on Ile aux Cerfs with a beach lunch, swimming, and the option of parasailing or a tube ride.

I like the private boat for up to four people, since your day is not tied to a large group. I also like the range of stops: snorkeling with tropical fish, possible dolphins and sea turtles, and a BBQ served on the beach. The main caution is important: the advertised nine-hour day has not always run that long, and some guests received less guide commentary or fewer drinks than expected.

Key points at a glance

• Five-island route from Trou d’Eau Douce: Visit Ile aux Cerfs, Ile aux Phares, Ile de la Passe, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Ilot Margenie.
• Blue Bay Marine Park snorkeling: Equipment is included, with tropical fish and possible sea turtle and dolphin sightings.
• Private speedboat for up to four people: A good fit for families, couples, or friends who want their own boat.
• Beach BBQ and drinks: Expect grilled chicken, fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, salad, snacks, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Guide language needs checking: English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian are advertised, but German-speaking service was not always available.
• Confirm the timetable and drink service: The full day is advertised as nine hours, but actual return times have varied.

A private speedboat day on Mauritius’ east coast

This tour is built around movement. You leave Trou d’Eau Douce in a private speedboat, feel the engine pick up over the waves, and spend the day crossing the lagoons and channels around Mauritius’ east coast.

That setup gives you more freedom than a standard shared boat trip. Your group can include up to four people, so the $498 price works out to $124.50 per person if you fill the boat. That is not a small expense, but it becomes more reasonable when you factor in the boat, guide, snorkeling equipment, lunch, snacks, drinks, and several separate stops.

The route is also varied enough to keep the day from feeling like one long beach visit. You get scenery, wildlife, swimming, a waterfall, a short island walk, and time to relax. I would choose this over a basic lagoon cruise if you want a full day with several activities rather than one main stop.

Still, private does not automatically mean polished. A speedboat can be noisy, wet, and exposed to the sun. The quality of your day will also depend heavily on the skipper’s communication and on how closely the schedule is followed.

Leaving Trou d’Eau Douce for Ile aux Cerfs

The journey starts and ends at Trou d’Eau Douce, a practical departure point for the east-coast islands. Optional hotel and Airbnb pickup and drop-off is available around Mauritius, but it is not part of the base price. If you need a transfer, check the added cost and exact pickup details before booking.

The first island stop is Ile aux Cerfs, where you have about 45 minutes for a short visit and refreshments. Later, you return to the island for around two hours of beach time and lunch, so this first stop is more of an introduction than a full stay.

I like this structure because it gives you a quick look at the island before the boat heads farther out. You are not using the whole morning on one beach. On the other hand, 45 minutes passes quickly, so do not expect a long walk or a full range of activities at this point.

Bring sunscreen and a camera, as the tour is spent largely outside. Water, sun, wind, and spray are part of the speedboat experience, not minor details.

Grand River South East waterfall and the monkey stop

The boat then heads to Grand River South East, where a waterfall flows toward the Indian Ocean. The setting gives the day a break from open water and adds one of Mauritius’ better-known natural sights.

You also have the chance to see and feed wild Mauritian monkeys. This is a memorable wildlife encounter, especially for children, but I would treat the feeding as a point to question. Feeding wild animals can encourage poor habits, and one account specifically objected to monkeys being given chips.

That detail matters because the tour presents the stop as a fun local encounter, while responsible wildlife practice should still guide what happens. If you take part, ask the guide what food is appropriate and avoid treating the animals as a show.

This is also one of the stops where a talkative guide makes a real difference. You may want to know what you are seeing, how the waterfall fits into the area, and how to behave around the monkeys. Some groups had a very engaged skipper, while others found the guide offered little information unless asked.

The five-island route and what you actually see

The route includes Ile aux Cerfs, Ile aux Phares, Ile de la Passe, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Ilot Margenie. The experience is less about spending hours on each island and more about seeing several corners of the east coast from the water.

Ile aux Phares and Ile de la Passe add a sense of history and exploration to the trip. The itinerary does not promise long guided visits on each island, so think of them as scenic passages and brief stops rather than museum-style visits.

Ile aux Aigrettes is used as a refreshment stop after Blue Bay Marine Park. Ilot Margenie appears on the return route toward Ile aux Cerfs. This island hopping works best if you enjoy the ride itself, changing views, and the feeling of covering a lot of ground in one day.

The private format helps here. You can ask questions, request clarification, and keep your group together without negotiating space with a large crowd. It does not guarantee a quiet ride, since the boat engine is powerful, but it does give your party control over the social side of the trip.

Snorkeling in Blue Bay Marine Park

The Blue Bay Marine Park stop is the most important part of the trip for many people. Snorkeling equipment is included, and you get time in the water among tropical fish.

You may also see sea turtles and dolphins. Sightings are never guaranteed, so I would book this for the chance to enjoy the marine park, not as a promise of a wildlife encounter. One particularly successful outing included a dolphin group and a sea turtle seen at close range, along with enough snorkeling time to appreciate the underwater life.

If snorkeling is a priority, choose an early start when possible. An early outing was praised for reaching the sites before the water became crowded with other boats. Later arrivals can make the stop feel less calm and may mean more people sharing the same area.

The boat provides the equipment, but you still need sunscreen and a camera. Keep your expectations practical: the experience is a guided stop in the marine park, not a specialist marine biology excursion. The quality of the stop will depend on sea conditions, visibility, timing, and how much time the skipper allows in the water.

Two hours on Ile aux Cerfs

After the marine park, the boat returns to Ile aux Cerfs for the longest land-based part of the day. You get roughly two hours to swim, sunbathe, drink coconut water, or simply find a place to sit near the white sand.

This is where the tour shifts from sightseeing to holiday mode. After a morning of engine noise, salt spray, and short stops, two hours in one place gives you room to slow down.

Parasailing and tube rides are available as optional activities, but they are not included in the tour price. I would ask about current prices and timing before committing, since an extra activity can cut into your beach and lunch time.

The island can also become busy around the lunch area. One strong day still had a party atmosphere near the food, though it was possible to move away from the busiest area. If you want complete peace and quiet, this may not be the right beach stop. If you like a social holiday setting, the music and possible sega performance may be part of the fun.

BBQ lunch, beach drinks, and the all-inclusive question

Lunch is prepared on the beach and includes grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad. Vegetarian requests were accommodated for one family, so tell the operator about dietary needs in advance rather than waiting until lunch.

The food is a useful part of the price because you do not need to leave the island to find a meal. The combination of grilled food, salad, bread, and simple side dishes suits a long day in the sun. It is not a restaurant tasting menu, and the beach setting matters as much as the cooking.

The advertised open bar includes rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water. Snacks are also included. The practical warning is that drink service may not match the phrase all-inclusive in the way you expect. Some outings had plenty of food and drinks at the final island, while earlier parts of the day offered only limited snacks and drinks.

I would confirm three points before departure:

• Are drinks available throughout the day or mainly at Ile aux Cerfs?
• What snacks are provided, and how often are they offered?
• Is the bar service unlimited for the whole nine-hour schedule?

That small conversation can prevent a major mismatch between your expectations and the day itself.

Guide quality and language support

The tour lists live guiding in English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian. In practice, language availability needs checking at the time you book. German-speaking guests were assigned English-only service on more than one occasion, and basic information was not always offered without questions.

That does not mean every guide will be poor. Anil was specifically praised for being friendly, engaged, and helpful, with one group enjoying the day from hotel pickup through the boat ride and return. Another group described the skipper as excellent and found the organization easy.

Your best move is to confirm the language in writing, especially if the guide’s explanations are central to your enjoyment. If you are happy with scenic driving, swimming, and short stops without much narration, this issue may matter less. If you want history and clear instructions at each location, it matters a lot.

Is $498 good value for four people?

At $498 for a private group of up to four, the price is easiest to justify with four people. That comes to $124.50 each before any optional hotel transfer or paid watersports.

You are paying for a full private boat rather than four places on a shared outing. You also receive a nine-hour advertised program, snorkeling equipment, lunch, snacks, drinks, the waterfall, island stops, and a return to the starting point.

The value falls quickly if the tour runs only five hours or if the open bar is limited to the final stop. A shorter day can still be enjoyable, but it changes the price calculation. I would confirm the planned departure and return times before paying, then make sure the skipper knows you booked the full schedule.

For two people, the cost is much harder to defend unless privacy is a major priority. For a family or group of four, it is more attractive, particularly if you would otherwise book several separate activities.

Timing, comfort, and who should book

I would choose an early starting time. It can mean fewer boats at the main spots, calmer snorkeling, and a better chance to enjoy the marine park before it feels crowded.

This tour suits you if you want:

• A private day on the water rather than a large group cruise
• Several stops instead of one beach
• Snorkeling with tropical fish
• A chance to see dolphins and sea turtles
• A beach BBQ with drinks
• A mix of active stops and relaxed beach time
• A speedboat ride with real engine noise and open-air exposure

I would think twice if you need a quiet, carefully narrated cultural tour, guaranteed wildlife sightings, or a strict nine-hour schedule. It is also a poor match if you dislike sun, spray, fast boat travel, or busy beach areas.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Mauritius plans are still moving, but they do not remove the need to confirm the guide language, transfer, and timetable.

Should you book this Mauritius speedboat tour?

I would book it for a group of four that wants a busy, varied day and values having its own boat. The strongest parts are the private format, early snorkeling option, sea life, Grand River South East waterfall, and the beach lunch on Ile aux Cerfs.

I would not book without first confirming two things: that your preferred guide language is actually available, and that the boat will operate close to the full nine-hour schedule. Also ask when drinks and snacks are served. If those answers are clear, this can be a memorable east-coast day. If the operator cannot give clear answers, a shorter shared cruise may offer better value.

FAQ

Where does the speedboat tour start and finish?

The tour starts and ends at Trou d’Eau Douce.

How long does the tour last?

The scheduled duration is nine hours, but actual return times have varied. Confirm the departure and return schedule before booking.

What islands are included?

The route includes Ile aux Cerfs, Ile aux Phares, Ile de la Passe, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Ilot Margenie.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included for the Blue Bay Marine Park stop.

What food and drinks are included?

The BBQ includes grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad. The advertised drinks include rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water, along with snacks. Confirm when the drinks and snacks will be served.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel and Airbnb pickup and drop-off around Mauritius are available as an optional transfer, but they are not included in the base activity price.